Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-10-27
st. Louis Correspondence.

Ed. Register - The most notable
event of the last week was the meeting
of the Grand Lodge of Masons for the
State of Missouri. The fraternity num-
bers, it is said, over $4,000 members.
Men of marked power are among them.
Statesmen, professional men, artizans,
r .ch men and poor are there. Though
not body of men carrying out pub
licly and acting on great questions, yet
a power that is felt, if not seen. The
world cannot tell the power of this Or
der, and they are not anxious to show
their force. They move on in lines
pleasing to themselves, and do their
work in their own way, regardless OF
the praise or the blame of the public.
The order is now in the midst of a
movement that does affect the public
in a way very noticeable. The Grand
Lodge sometime ago declared it to be
unmasonic to engage in the liquor busi-
ness, either as manufacturer or vendor.
The Lodge, therefore, called upon all
subordinate Lodges to govern them
selves accordingly. 1t is understood
that some Lodges, for various reasons,
failed to heed the instruction. The
Grand Master thereupon revoked the
charter of the Lodges thus offending
These Lodges, as was their privilege,
appealed to the Grand Lodge, that met
in this city last week.
The matter came up In due form, and
was argued, as is understood, pro and
con, and vote taken, which resulted
6 to to sustain the Grand Master
This heavy vote showed the mind OF
the order on that question in a very
emphatic manner. This action will
have the effect of causing that body Of
%, 900 men to stand In this state entire.
ly free from the liquor traffic. What
other large body of men have thus
purged themselves Of the practice7
Some of the churches even have not
done as we'll, we are sorry to say.
These 25,0 900 men are moving all oyer
and through the state. and touch and
mingle with society i'm all it's depart.
Will not this action do more than ever
could be by temperance society %, 600
strong? Many would not give much
attention to such men, as that would
be their "trade." But here are these
25, 900 Masons, who are not an avowed
temperance society and working fol
that end alone, but men, working for
their mutual good and the maintain.
ance of correct and manly character
who affirm 10y this action that man
cannot be a good Mason and engage in
this ruinOus practice. I think this is
one of the most telling stripes laid on
the bare back of intemperance in the
state of Missouri since the "war be.
gam" Intemperance will vince under
this heavy lash. Politicians will see in
this more than a summer straw. Al
ready we hear that some are" trimming
their sails" to catch this coming tor
nado. This is the issue of the day.
See how Missouri is stirred all over
with the local option movement-car-
ried in some places; where it did not
il shows the proof of the rising tide.
The time was when men laughed at
the idea of emancipation, and hooted
at the idea of selling out. If some men
want to sell out for invested values,
better do it,soon or they may be where
men are in other states: with dead and
worth less property on their hands.
Other orders will follow the Masons,
and one stone after another crumble
from the arch till all will fall.
ST Ionic Oct 90th 1907